The weekend after Christmas was the perfect opportunity to help Roni finish up her business in Seattle. Henry had been the most excited, hovering around Roni and asking a million questions. The only time he'd ever been out of Storybrooke was the first few weeks of his life, but obviously he didn't remember that. He wanted to see where his mom had been the last four years.
Snow was hesitant to let Emma and Henry go to Seattle, but Emma reminded her that she was an adult and could make her own decisions. David helped them pack their bags into the truck, then drove them to the airport. Henry sat next to Roni and they talked about school and friends and life. Emma got stuck next to a three year old belting out the same song over and over and over until she fell asleep.
Finally, they arrived in Seattle. Henry's eyes lit up when he spotted the city just before landing. The setting sun lit it in an orange glow. After they landed and retrieved their bags, it was night.
"Let's check in at our hotel and I'll show you a great place to eat." Roni said. They did just that and piled into an Uber to go to a corner of Hyperion Heights. The dogs in the alley made Henry a bit nervous, but once inside, the warm and cheerful atmosphere eased his worries. The owners treated every customer like their own relatives and made everyone feel right at home. And the food! Their pepperoni pizza was to die for and their spaghetti and meatballs was crazy good and known all over town as the best. Even the stray dogs came by for a bite.
"Tomorrow, I want to show you guys around my neighborhood. That is, if you'd like?" Roni questioned.
"Of course, Roni." Emma said.
"Yeah! I want to see everything." Henry added.
"Good. And after I sell my car, I was thinking we could see some sights. You know, like the Space Needle, maybe check out a museum?"
"Sounds like a plan." Emma smiled.
"Roni!" The next day, they had made their way to the bar where Roni last left her car. The owner greeted her warmly. "How's it going?"
"It's... going." Roni shrugged. "Have you seen my car?"
"Yeah, Shirley moved it to the back." They pulled out the keys from their pocket and tossed them towards Roni. She caught them in her hand and thanked them. The three of them walked around to the back of the bar and saw Roni's car.
"That's your car?" Henry wrinkled his nose. The old car was definitely older than Henry, with chipping paint and a dent over the back left wheel. "And you called Emma's Bug a death trap?"
"Hey, that was before everything... you know... happened." Roni replied. "Besides, it won't be mine for long."
"Who's going to want to buy this?" Henry asked. Roni just shrugged.
"I know a guy."
This guy was actually a tough biker chick-looking woman who worked in a car repair shop called Mac's. When she saw Roni, she broke into a grin.
"Roni! I was wondering when you would come see me again. Who's your friend?"
"This is Emma Swan and her son, Henry." Roni introduced them. "Guys, this is Mac."
"Nice to meet you." Henry said.
"Wow. So polite! I definitely wasn't like that at his age." Mac said. "So what can I do for you, Roni?"
"I need to sell my car. How much can you get me for it?" Roni answered.
"Let's take a look at her..." Mac looked over the car and under the hood. "I can probably give you $3500. And that's being generous."
"I'll take it." Roni said.
"I heard about your bar burning down. Are you okay?" Mac asked as she got everything ready. Roni shrugged.
"I'm getting there." She answered truthfully.
"I know we're not a thing anymore, but if you ever need anything, just give me a call, alright?" Mac said, handing over an envelope with her cash.
"Thanks, but I have everything I need." Roni said. They looked back to Emma and Henry, who were looking around the shop.
"They look nice. Take care of them, Roni." Mac said.
"They are, and currently they're the ones taking care of me." Roni replied.
"Whoa! Mom, can I get a motorcycle when I get my license?" Henry asked. Roni had an "absolutely not!" ready at the tip of her tongue, but stopped herself. She rode with Mac quite a few times and came out unscathed. Plus, it was Emma's choice.
"I... I don't..." Emma was hesitant. She didn't want to say no, but she felt like it was a bad mom thing to say yes. She's ridden on a motorcycle before and saw nothing wrong with them, but was it something she was okay with Henry doing?
"I can take him for a ride, if that's okay with you. Just once around the block." Mac offered.
"Yeah! Can I, Ma?" Henry gave Emma his best puppy eyes.
"Just wear a helmet?"
Henry nodded and accepted the extra helmet from Mac. She showed him the parts of the motorcycle before revving it up and zooming out into the street, Henry cheering in excitement. Emma and Roni watched them until they turned the corner.
"So... you two were dating?"
"Oh. You heard that? Yes, we were a thing. Briefly. But... I don't know... we just didn't work out." Roni said.
"Are we going to talk about that kiss?" Emma asked.
"We were under the mistletoe. Kissing is traditionally what you do under it." Roni explained.
"Is that it? You were just following tradition?" Emma questioned. Roni frowned.
"Yes... no... it's complicated. You're my only friend, Emma. If something happens between us and it doesn't work out... I can't lose you. You're the only one who believes in me." Emma reached for Roni's hands and held them in hers.
"Listen: if we do decide to further our relationship, I swear to you, my opinion of you will not change. I will always be on your side, Roni. I will always stick up for you, no matter what." Emma promised. Roni gave a smile, once again hopefull for the future. The rumbling of Mac's motorcycle got closer and the two women stepped apart and waited for their son. Mac parked the bike in the garage and took off her helmet. Henry hopped off and removed his helmet as well, a thousand-watt grin on his face.
"That was SO COOL! You HAVE to let me get one!" Henry begged.
"When you turn 18, you can do what you want." Emma answered. Henry took that as a yes.
Hyperion Heights brought Roni to life, Henry noticed. She wasn't the quiet, sad woman she was in Storybrooke. She smiled a lot more, especially when people she knew stopped to talk to her. She showed them her neighborhood and her old neighbors came out to greet her. She really made a difference in their lives. This had Henry wishing it could be like that back home. His mom needed friends to talk to and go out with. So far, since she came back, she only left the house if Emma was with her. No one in town trusted her... but they just might trust him...
Ideas swam around Henry's head. If he could just get people to see that she's changed, maybe they could all be happy together. Once they got home, he would start planning Operation Phoenix. He watched as Roni and Emma interacted with one of Roni's old neighbors. To anyone who didn't know them, they looked like a couple and their kid. The way Roni would constantly reach out to touch Emma's arm, the way she'd look over and smile, only made it more convincing.
The image of his moms together, of them happy and TOGETHER was something Henry suddenly wanted more than anything. Ever since his dad died, Henry knew there was something missing in their lives. Emma was struggling with being a mom and a daughter and a sister. Yes, they had family, but sometimes she needed a break from all that. When she was with Roni, though, Emma seemed at ease.
Maybe their happy ending was closer than they thought?
